2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SEL 1.5T S-AWC Review by David Colman

2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SEL S-AWC

Beguiling outside but uninspiring inside

By David Colman
Special Correspondent to THE AUTO CHANNEL

2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SEL S-AWC

This compact SUV which Mitsubishi introduced in 2019, bridges the gap between the company's petite Outlander Sport and full size Outlander. The Eclipse Cross measures 173 inches in length, and weighs 3,515 pounds.
That makes it 4 inches longer and 225 pounds heavier than the Outlander Sport, but a full foot shorter than the 3,610 pound Outlander. With a wheelbase of 105 inches, the Eclipse will carry four adults in reasonable comfort
and five in a pinch. With the rear seatbacks stored, interior storage space measures 22.5 cubic feet.

The SEL version we tested tops the range. It included standard all-wheel-drive, which Mitsubishi labels S-AWC (Super All-Wheel-Control). The base trim level ES 1.5T powers only the front wheels and retails for $23,595.
Our test SEL carried a base price of $28,595. With $3,030 in add-ons (including a $2,100 Touring Package), the bottom line for the fully optioned SEL came to $32,720. For that kind of money, you could buy a Mazda CX-3,
Toyota RAV4 or Subaru Forester. So what distinguishes the Eclipse Cross from these established competitors?

2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SEL S-AWC

Topping the list is its appearance, which is rather intriguing. The pronounced forward rake benefits from deftly sculpted side panels that accentuate the optional $595 Red Diamond paint on our test vehicle. The Eclipse
Cross stands tall but looks narrow. With its two plane rear window, it reminds one of the unlamented Pontiac Aztec. A kinder evaluation puts the see-through tailgate in the same class as VW's second generation
Scirocco, or Toyota's earlier generation Prius. At any rate, the Eclipse's double pane glass distinguishes it visually from all other small SUVs. And from a practical standpoint, the bi-plane glass improves
rear vision to the point where the provided back-up camera is unneeded.

2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SEL S-AWC

The interior of this SUV feels a bit cramped due to high window sill placement, and the pronounced tumble home of the cabin's window surfaces. Rear seat passengers in particular will discover modest legroom.
Although this vehicle is built in Okazaki, Japan of 92% Japanese content, the finish of the interior is not up to the standards we have come to expect from Japan. For example, where the 7.0 inch touchpad display screen
rises from the center of the dash, a conspicuous bead of material hides the joint. This bead is poorly installed and uneven. The touchpad mouse between the front seats is so tiny that hand gestures are difficult to
perform while underway.

Because the Eclipse stands 67 inches high, cornering is not its forte. When you change direction quickly on a curving road, the Bridgestone Ecopia HL 422 radials (225/55R18), mounted on 7 x 18 inch "two-tone"
alloy rims, have a tough time overcoming the tendency of the tall cabin to keep traveling in a straight line. So in essence you're asking the chassis to make lateral halfback moves when the best it can do is offer
straight fullback plunges. On the freeway, this lack of nimbleness matters little. Especially if you opt for the Touring Package which equips the Eclipse with Adaptive Cruise Control. ACC simplifies freeway driving by
allowing you to pace traffic automatically. The Touring group also adds heat to the steering wheel and rear seats as well as a knockout Rockford Fosgate sound system. Additionally, this group brings you forward collision
mitigation with high speed braking. Since Mitsubishi already provides standard forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection it would make sense to add the high speed braking capability to the basic safety package.

2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SEL S-AWC

The Eclipse's 158hp, 1.5 liter turbo motor has its work cut out for it since the power to weight ratio requires each horsepower of the overburdened 4 cylinder to haul 22.2 pounds of weight. The 8 speed CVT
transmission does its best to offer a variety of engine speed ranges which can be controlled with huge paddle shifts that are attached to the steering column, not the wheel. This great design, which keeps the paddles
in proper position at all times, is clearly a product of Mitsubishi's World Rally Championship heritage. However, no number of shift sequences can compensate for the fact that the Eclipse Cross is rather underpowered.

Eclipse Cross scores well in EPA fuel consumption tests with an overall MPG rating of 25. It also boasts one of the longest warranty packages currently available in this class, with 10 years or 100,000 miles on the
powertrain, and 5 years/ 60,000 miles for the new vehicle limited warranty. They also provide roadside assistance for 5 years/ unlimited mileage. So factor those positives into your consideration here.

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